Wednesday 10 July 2019

Beethoven's Diabelli Variations: Artur Schnabel

Back to Beethoven's Diabelli, and this time with Artur Schnabel (recorded 1937). The restoration on Naxos (Mark Obert-Thorn) is excellent, but I needed to tame the bass. Compared with Levit (yesterday) one notices straight away how Schnabel differentiates each of the 33 variations, and how he obviously loves the music. Coming from a different time, many of the variations are played more slowly than is now customary. So much the better.

Despite its age, this is now going to be my first choice when I want to listen to the Diabelli played by a master who knows and loves the music. Three stars.

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